A Global Plastics Treaty

A Global Plastics Treaty

A challenge for any solution to pellet pollution is how to ensure global co-ordination and compatibility across complex international supply chains. Plastic pellets are a major source of upstream plastic pollution globally, with devastating impacts on communities, wildlife and livelihoods.

A Global Plastic Treaty (technically known as the International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution) is currently being negotiated at the United Nations, offering a significant opportunity to end plastic pellet pollution across the world and throughout supply chains. The inclusion of plastic pellets (nurdles) in a final Global Plastics Treaty is essential to prevent more pellets entering the environment.

Resources and information related to the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations can be found below.

What’s next?

Following the conclusion of the thirds round of negotiation (INC-3) in November 2023, the fourth round of negotiations (INC04) will be taking place in Ottawa, Canada in April 2024.

More information will be release in the coming months.

Opportunity

This could provide a unique platform to discuss and agree the implementation of the solutions such as a supply chain approach. It could allow for global uptake of working solutions developed in one region.

Challenge

Getting support for having pellet action in a global agreement may be difficult while there are few/no regional working examples of legislation.

Current Activity

Negotiations are on going. The next INCs have been agreed and will take place as follows:

- INC-4 Ottawa, Canada (April 2024)
- INC-5 the Republic of Korea (Oct/Nov 2024)

Actions

We can all help raise awareness of the issue and solutions needed to help show public support for action from governments.

NGOs are asking governments in the negotiations to:

Call for eliminating pellet loss and spills across the supply chain
Call for verification of pellet pollution prevention measures and reporting of any losses or spills of pellets
Call for remediation and disaster response protocols in the event of pellet pollution
Call for compensation for communities and wildlife impacted by pellet pollution
Call for safe, circular responsible production through stopping the loss of pellets, preventing the use of harmful chemicals and ending overproduction of plastic.

Resources

Fidra, EIA and Fauna & Flora – Addressing Plastic Pellets Within the International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution – INC-3 Brief

The brief addresses Plastic Pellets Within the International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution

Fidra INC-3 Pre-session submissions (Part A and B)

In preparation for the third round of negotiations for a global plastics treaty (INC-3), the secretariat has requested submissions from…

Microplastic Working Group INC-3 Pre-session submissions (Part B)

In preparation for the third round of negotiations for a global plastics treaty (INC-3), the secretariat has requested submissions from…

Oracle Environmental Experts – Mapping the global plastic pellet supply chain – Report and resource packs

Mapping the global plastic pellet supply chain.
New report maps global plastic pellet supply chain and finds countries worldwide are at risk from over 2 trillion plastic pellets spilling into the environment each year.

United Nations INC-3 – Intersessional Work Submissions Portal (Global plastics treaty)

Following UN INC-2 negotiations in May 2023 (Global plastics treaty), the secretariat invited written submissions regarding: (a) Elements not discussed at INC-2 (e.g. principles and scope of treaty) and (b) Any potential areas for inter-sessional work between contact groups. These submissions will be used to further inform upcoming INC-3 negotiations.

Fidra – Can the global plastics treaty address pellet pollution? – Solutions to Pellet Pollution Series Webinar

A jam packed webinar filled with information on how NGO’s are and can get involved with the global plastic treaty

EIA – How to get involved guide

A guide for NGOs and individuals on how to campaign and communicate with policy makers involved in the Global Plastic Treaty…

Map of plastic pellet inclusion in nations Global Plastics Treaty submissions (INC-2)

Map representing the inclusion of plastic pellets in national submissions to the Global Plastics Treaty (INC-2): Following the first round…

IISD Earth Negotiations Bulletin – Global plastic treaty sessions – Summary Reports

Sessions of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to Develop an International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution, Including in the Marine Environment (INC-2)

EIA Report – Global treaty for plastic pollution resources

This short report by the EIA outlines A new global treaty for plastic pollution The passing of a UN Environment…

UN Global Plastics Treaty Submission Table

This table represents government submissions to the UN Global Plastics Treaty, specifically noting the inclusion of plastic pellets in each…

The Morning – Addressing the global plastic problem and the global plastic Treaty – News Report

Urgent action is required to address the global plastic problem. This article goes into depth on addressing the global plastic…